The government on Jan. 5 concluded a deal with Pfizer on pills to treat COVID-19 for an additional 400,000 people. Shown here is Pfizer's Paxlovid produced in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. (Pfizer)
The government on Jan. 5 secured additional oral medication for COVID-19 to cover 400,000 patients.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said it finalized a deal on the additional supply with Pfizer Korea.
Korea thus concluded advance purchase contracts to provide the pills to a combined 1,004,000 patients, including enough for 604,000 secured last month. Pfizer offered Paxlovid for 762,000 people and Merck offered Molnupiravir for 242,000.
The medications have no major restrictions on use and are expected to slash the death rate from the coronavirus by preventing severe progression of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Dec. 27 last year decided to grant emergency authorization for Paxlovid, so the drug will be adopted and used from the middle of this month.
The government said in a statement, "We are at the final stage of confirming details including the initial supply and introduction schedule," adding, "Next week, we plan to release to the public guidelines on the use of the oral medication."
"Use of the pills will contribute to home-based treatment as well as quarantine and medical responses to the omicron variant."
The government will continue reviewing the methods of the medication's uses and additional purchases.
jesimin@korea.kr
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